Two people died in a Maryland auto accident on Saturday, Novembe 24, despite the heroic efforts of an off-duty Maryland State Trooper in Harford County. The trooper’s actions did save the life of a third occupant.
Veney B. Tanner Jr. of Abingdon was driving a Lexus northbound on Interstate 95 near Route 24 around 2:00 a.m. when the accident occurred.
Tanner, 31, was apparently trying to flee a road rage incident when he cut across all lanes of traffic into the fast lane, where an oncoming box truck his Lexus.
Maryland State Police Cpl. Kevin Watkins came upon the scene just minutes after the accident occurred. He wasted no time in pulling Tanner and his two passengers out of the Lexus just before the car became engulfed in flames. He attempted to give Tanner CPR, but the young father of two was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
Janelle E. Jackson, a 17-year-old passenger from Baltimore, was rushed by helicopter to a nearby Maryland Shock Trauma Center, where she also died from her injuries.
A third passenger, 38-year-old Myron Doram of Randallstown, was being treated at Bayview Hospital for his injuries. The driver of the box truck, 63-year-old Clinton T. Griffin of Newark, Delaware, was also being treated for injuries, including smoke inhalation.
A preliminary investigation into the crash shows that Tanner may have been trying to get away from a dark-colored Jeep with which he had been involved in a road rage incident just minutes before the accident.
Witnesses say that both vehicles were traveling northbound on the highway when the Jeep stopped suddenly, forcing Tanner to stop as well. The two vehicles pulled off to the shoulder, where at least one of the Jeep’s occupants was seen banging on the windows of the Lexus. As Tanner left the shoulder and into the fast lane where the accident occurred, the Jeep left the scene.
Police are looking for any information on the Jeep or its occupants. The investigation is ongoing.
We estend our condolences to the grieving families of victims from this tragic accident.